New SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea Convention) Requirements Effective July 1, 2016

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced that it has amended the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) requirements of container weighing rules. Effective July 1, 2016, it would be violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a vessel if the vessel operator and marine operator do not have a verified weight.

There are two permissible methods for weighing:

1. Weighing the container after it has been packed, or

2. Weighing all the cargo and contents of the container and adding those weight to the container’s tare weight as indicated on the door end of the container.

Estimated Weight will also not be permitted, the shipper has the responsibility to verify the weight using one of the methods mentioned. The weiging equipment used must meet national certification. In order to be compliant under SOLAS, weight verification must be “signed”, meaning a specific person is identified as having verified the accuracy of the weight on behalf of the shipper. The lack of signed shipper weight verification can be remedied by weighing the packed container at the port. It may not be loaded on to the ship without any alternative means if the marine terminal does not have equipment to weigh the container.

1. The heavy container corridor was created to aid in the movement of overweight 40’ or larger ocean going containers on designated City streets in and around the Port of Los Angeles.

2. The City of Los Angeles, City of Long Beach and State of California, Department of Public Works approved a measure that allows permits be granted for overweight container loads in the Port area. The permits allow the gross vehicle weight of the truck, chassis, container and contents to be at 95,000 pounds/43,130 kilograms (with proper equipment).

3. The Heavy Container Corridor Map reflects the appropriate overweight corridor route in the Port of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Please review the map, which will identify the proper agency responsible for that highway. That respective agency will issue the appropriate overweight permit. When traveling within multiple city jurisdictions noted on the map, permits will be required from each jurisdiction.